Disclaimer: This is not a movie about cigarettes, stupid.
Four questions, Randomites: Did you grow up in the 90’s? Do you have entire sections of dialogue from various Jim Carrey movies memorized? Did you ever speak to someone with your ass? Do you still speak to people with your ass? Good. Me too. I was kind of worried that I might still be the only one who does that. I know Grandma sure doesn’t appreciate it, but she’s got to get with the times.
Jim Carrey movies were a hallmark of the 1990’s. I don’t think I’ve ever met anyone who hasn’t seen “Dumb and Dumber” or “Liar Liar”. If some drunken guy at the bar yells “Smokin’!” everyone from the ages of about 20-40 will instantly get the reference, smile a little and roll their eyes because the idiot keeps saying it over and over because they think it’s funny again. You can show little kids the Ave Ventura movies and they’ll love them. I mean, who wouldn’t laugh at the sight of a skinny, naked man crawling out of a rubber rhino’s ass? Hell, even Grandma might giggle a little at that. Pure comedic gold.
So, while Carrey and his rubber face were a comedic fixture of the late 80’s and the 90’s, Carrey decided to suddenly switch gears and do some dramatic work between his usual comedies. Most of these films were actually good, like “The Truman Show” and “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind” (one of my favorites), while some, like “The Majestic” sucked. He’s thrown some comedies in here and there, but none of his roles have brought back his excellent and heartfelt acting and comedic timing like “I Love You, Phillip Morris”.
“I Love You, Phillip Morris” is the story of Steven Russell (Jim Carrey), a married, straight-laced, small town cop with a secret: he’s really, really gay. After a serious car crash, Russell decides to live his life the way he wants to, so he moves to Florida, gets a hot Spanish boyfriend and becomes a conman because, and I quote, “being gay is really expensive”. Eventually, Russell ends up in jail where he meets and falls hopelessly in love with the quiet, dainty southern belle Phillip Morris (the equally awesome Ewan McGregor). The two are eventually released and Russell shifts from his conman routine to serious white collar crime, becoming a lawyer and then the CFO of a major company, all to keep Morris happy and comfortable. After being captured again, Russell performs a series of increasingly complicated and amazing prison escapes, all so he can be with Phillip Morris.
Ok, here’s the part where I gush over how awesome Carrey and McGregor are in this movie. Carrey is perfect in his role as the smooth-talking, intelligent conman and plays the newly-gay and fabulous man so well that it’s astounding. McGregor, who’s a very good actor in the first place, plays an effeminate and delicate gay man like he’s been doing it his whole life (maybe he has…quick, write a false headline and send it to the tabloids! There’s money in them lies, boy).
Carrey and McGregor make their relationship believable and sincere and they come across as a real and loving couple. Carrey goes to great lengths to earn McGregor’s love and trust, sending him gifts and letters through the underground prison mail system and having people McGregor doesn’t like beaten up. A particularly funny scene involves the two of them slow dancing and kissing (deal with it, Grandma, you ol’ homophobe) while the prisoner in the cell next door is shouting and fighting with the guards, showing that the film does an amazing job pairing the comedic and romantic elements.
There aren’t very many other big names in the film beyond Leslie Mann, who plays Carrey’s religious but remarkably accepting wife and spends her few minutes on screen being thoroughly hilarious.
Strangely, “I Love You, Phillip Morris” was actually first shot in 2009 and was pushed around by different studios and distributors because it contained rather explicit and intense sex scenes between Carrey and McGregor. It would seem that these companies figured that the fat, homophobic American masses wouldn’t be too keen on watching two middle aged movie stars doing some reportedly very explicit man-loving… yet somehow “Brokeback Mountain” made it through in 2005… perhaps being a serious drama and having younger and more attractive male leads makes such things acceptable to film companies. Foolish old men!
After being reedited and slightly changed (more comedy, less ass play), “I Love You, Phillip Morris” was changed from being a romantic and heartfelt film to a black comedy (probably a good idea), the film received some limited release in the U.S., though it wasn’t very well marketed and didn’t do as well as was hoped.
Here’s an interesting fact to top this review off, folks: this whole movie is based on a real story. The film even points this out in the first 10 seconds. Steven Russell and Phillip Morris are real people and every single thing that happens in the film actually happened (though some of it is embellished and overdone for the comedic effect). Steve Russell really was a cop, then a successful conman, he really did fake his way through being a lawyer and corporate executive and escaped from prison FOUR TIMES just to be with Morris. Look it up. The real story is just as incredible as it is unbelievable.
So, let recap. “I Love You, Phillip Morris” is a great, funny and heartwarming film that I can’t say enough good things about. It’s a shame when good movies get shunted to the side or ignored by people, but thank goodness for the internet and Netflix (where it’s currently available). Do yourself a favor and see this movie and, for the love of pancakes, don’t get all worked up or dismiss this flick just because it’s about a gay relationship. Gays are people too; they’re just funnier, nicer and way better dressed than the rest of us poor schlubs. That’s just science, people.
4 out of 5 Smilin' Abes
Review written by Angry Movie Nerd
Writer, Editor, Nerd and Head Pancake Batter Mixer
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